Cricket South Africa not selling out

South Africa will not agree to India, England and Australia's plan to effectively take control of the sport.

11 Feb 2014 16:34 GMT

Chris Nenzani, President of CSA, has changed his stance given the "Big Three's" improved proposals [Getty Images]

Cricket South Africa did not sell out to India, England and Australia over the decision to allow the 'Big Three' to effectively take control of the sport, president Chris Nenzani has said.

However, Nenzani acknowledged it was "not ideal" the International Cricket Council (ICC) governing authority had given more power to the three wealthiest nations, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA).

CSA originally stood alongside Sri Lanka and Pakistan in opposition to what was widely viewed as a hijacking of the sport by the Big Three before making a U-turn and voting in favour of the ICC proposal in Singapore at the weekend.

"I would also like to correct the perception that we changed our vote at the last minute. I exercised the voting position handed to me as a mandate by the CSA board on 1st February."

The PCB and Sri Lanka Cricket abstained from voting in Singapore.

Nenzani said CSA changed its stance after "significant improvements" were made to the proposal by the Big Three and denied any deals were struck to gain its vote.

Significant improvements made

"The first proposal talked about the chairmanship of the ICC, finance and commercial affairs (F&CA) committee and the new executive committee being held permanently by the BCCI, ECB and Cricket Australia.

"The new proposal says there will be elections for these positions involving all member countries after 2016.

"The original proposal also excluded South Africa from the Test cricket fund that helps boards finance incoming tours but we have now been included in that as a beneficiary," he said.

Nenzani, though, said that handing more control and financial muscle to their main rivals, on the pitch and in terms of revenue generation, has in part been forced on the other seven test-playing nations.

"What we have achieved is not the ideal outcome but it is the best possible one that was available to us both for our own future and that of the global game," he explained.

Nenzani added CSA was also negotiating to host one of the ICC's major limited-overs events between now and 2023.

The existing proposal states that all events will be hosted by India, England or Australia in that period.